…police all across the country are going to be very tense, so when you as a concealed weapon or an open weapon carrier interface with law enforcement officers, you need to be 100% on your game. That means under no circumstances are you going to make any "motions consistent with drawing a handgun." Hands in full sight, I suggest palms turned out. If you have a concealed weapon, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES do you pull open your jacket or pull up your shirt to reveal the concealed weapon except under the specific orders of the LEO!
If you are involved in a shooting situation, I suggest that you consider NOT reholstering. The danger in reholstering, as we've shown on TBD, is that when the LEOs arrive there's a chance that, with all the shouting that I guarantee is going to be happening — especially, "WHERE IS THE GUN!" — you might quickly pull back your jacket or shirt to show the police where the gun is…"motion consistent with drawing a handgun." Keep the gun in your hand until you hear the sirens or you are very clear that the arrival of the police is imminent…then place the gun on a table or chair, or on the ground in front of you. Immediately point out the gun to the arriving cops, then keep your hands visible, palms out.
Yes, this is paranoia…but my job is to help you guys stay alive!
Just after the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson there was a news story about an some activist who was blasting about how cops were reckless, bloodthirsty, etc.
ReplyDeleteOne of the Texas PD's invited him to try a simulator and see what it was like to have to make instant decisions about shoot or no shoot.
The story reported that the activist left with a very different attitude after shooting several unarmed targets.
Tom Bogan
Laconia NH
PS. Linkshttp://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/1382363-story
Honestly, I am growing more and more tired of having to mind my p’s and q’s, and be on my best behavior so that members of the new American upper caste can behave like thugs and get away with it.
ReplyDeletehttp://reason.com/blog/2015/08/03/swat-team-liable-for-wrong-house-flash-b
http://www.nationofchange.org/2015/08/25/swat-team-raids-wrong-house-holding-mother-and-children-at-gunpoint/
We can go on, but everyone reading your blog MB will be familiar.
I do not in any way, shape or form support the politicized and powerfully charged anti-police violence that is seemingly fomented from POTUS on down. but I had a very enlightening discussion with one of my closest friends yesterday who is retired PD. His comments to me were quite blunt: “these officers are bringing this on themselves and have brought it on themselves” he tole me. They literally create this animosity and amplify it with lots of forced ‘non-consensual’ encounters, shows of force, attempts at intimidation and bully like behavior. Political policing has taken over community policing.
The ratio of “good cops” to bad ones and “go along to get along” examples is getting smaller and smaller. Cops who are good but do nothing to stop the bad cops, or the bad policing allow this to go on and on and it’s doing so in an era of everyone having a camera.
Leadership of the departments falling victim to this political policing policy, and the “overwhelming force” doctrine are simply not prepared and out of touch with society. They’re law enforcing the last century and crime has advanced.
And more and more of it are being captured on video for the world to see. Forever.
We need to be having honest discussions with our friends, brothers & sisters in law enforcement. Put your best foot forward and remember the golden rule.
This murderer:
http://news.yahoo.com/ex-police-officer-faces-murder-charge-virginia-shooting-011825318.html
would have gotten away with it, if it hadn’t been captured on cell phone video.
2 years of obfuscation and attempted cover up almost allowed this killing to go unpunished.
besides one of my very best friends, i know a few in LE. I like and respect them and I absolutely do not want them hurt. But I hope they are getting the message that optics matter. Attitude matters. it’s not just them that represent their profession and department, it’s their whole department and if there are bad apples out there, it’s not enough to just say ‘oh well, that’s just Bubba... he’s like that”. that’s just not good enough any more, like it or not.
We do need to take care, be safe and be good ambassadors to the shooting sports. But when I have to fear the police, we as a society are no longer free.
Yeah - my normal protocol (and probably even more so today) if I'm carrying is to keep my hands in plain sight, tell the officer I am lawfully carrying and ask him how he would like me to proceed. This is especially true if I get pulled over - if I reach for my wallet to show driver's license, my holster is going to show and I don't want it to be a surprise.
ReplyDeleteI don't consider this kowtowing to anyone's agenda.... it just seems smart to keep anyone from being surprised.
I'm with "bgary" here.
ReplyDeleteIf the attacker is either dead, or otherwise incapacitated AND there are no other threats present AND you don't need to keep the scene secure from further threats to yourself; stow the gun back in the holster (or purse) and follow "bgary"'s advice. That way, someone just walking-up on the scene won't jump to the conclusion that the "guy with the gun" is the BAD GUY at "the shooting" and take you out.
In the mean-time, prior to the arrival of law enforcement personnel, gather as much info' as possible. Ask witnesses to stay around, get names, use your phone to take pictures for evidence, etc.
Life Member